"On the 124th Independence Day:
Independence will always born out of people's struggle"
As the Philippines commemorates its "Independence day", people knows that despite numerous messages "commemorating honour, bravery, heroism, and sacrifice" that the country continues to live in a state of repression.
Be it because of the recent pandemic to that of the continuity of unjust policies brought by the order, that the folk remain chained to uncertainty, fear and anxiety over their lives. Recently, news about the recent arrest of Agrarian Reform advocates in Tarlac gave rise to the reality that's contrary to the government's promises of handing land to the landless; or those from Ifugao and in Mindanao with displacements due to military operations run counter to "respect" to minorities.
In truth, the Filipino folk felt violence in various forms brought by the order. With its attack dogs "empowered" through the Anti-Terrorism Act as well as agencies like the NTF-ELCAC, it becomes admissible that the folk has to "live dangerously" as bandits in uniform used a renewed "antisubversion" to target those who expressed opposition against the regime- be it those who simply tilled their land for sustenance, providing food through the community pantry, or by simply expressing opposition to the present and coming regime and its policies.
It is not surprising that by hearing messages about celebrating the valour and heroism of the folk those who assert for land, bread, peace, and justice are the ones being put to jail or in their graves. How heroic those who did assert the way they demand an end to both intrusion from both United States and Chinese interests; of respecting the environment and of the self-determination of Moro, Cordilleran, and other National Minorities. But what the order did is by simply through a continuing past of harassment, arrest, or even death or disappearance while entrenched interests raking profits in exploiting natural resources and the people.
And now as the coming second Marcos regime has about to begin, expect people treating this with a grain of salt no matter apologists trying their "bests" to convince that "everything is normal" the way they tell how good the Duterte regime is regardless of corruption, repression, and unjust policies and activities. Perhaps, this reminds of former President Aquino who said "you didn't die right?" in facing the families of those killed in Mamasapano some years ago- and again this resonates everyone's minds that apologists telling each and everyone that "everyone didn't die" under Duterte, what more this coming Marcos-Duterte.
Thus, this note, in commemorating Independence Day, would suggest that this event is about more than only honoring the sacrifice and valor of previous heroes, nor is it about "simply looking forward to a future" yet reality is one of reactionary continuity. What the concerned observes is a reaffirmation that the struggle for independence and self-liberation against repression and injustice continues. There will undoubtedly be individuals who ignore such ideas, but freedom is not simply about flying the flag; the struggle continues until the goal of a just, progressive, and peaceful society is realised.